Hello! We are trying to see if we could even afford a trip to Disney. I am needing the most economical way to eat without taking out all the "magic". Is the meal plan the best way to go? There are 4 kids...8,6,4,and 2. THANK YOU!!
”

Hi, Jacqueline! I want to assure you first of all that your children will have a magical time at Walt Disney World no matter what they are eating! With everything else there is to see and do, I'm not even sure my kids are aware of what they're eating when they finally sit still long enough to get a meal into them!

The value of the dining plan really depends on your family's eating habits. We have always found that for our family, the dining plan is way too much food, and we've always felt we've wasted so much! My kids are fairly light breakfast eaters, so we usually do something quick in our room before we head out. I bring breakfast or protein bars with me, some cold cereals, apples and bananas, and then I pick up some yogurt and juice when I get down there. If you are an All Star family suite, you'll have a small refrigerator that you can put these things in, as well as a microwave to heat up some oatmeal.

Most days, I take snacks with me into the parks. I keep my backpack filled with crackers, nuts, and raisins, along with a couple of bottles of water that can be refilled at the fountains, and maybe a couple of juice boxes. You can do counter service lunch and dinner, which is less expensive, and there are still ways there to split meals and save money. Even though the menu will show combo meals, you can order sandwiches without the extras to save a little bit of money. You may even find with a two year old, it's worth it to head back to the resort and make sandwiches in your room for lunch, giving everyone a much needed break from the hot Florida sunshine.

Lastly, if you want to do something truly magical for a meal, book one character meal. Choose a breakfast or a lunch, which will be less expensive than a dinner. The kids will all have a blast, you won't feel like you've broken the budget with just one splurge, and the character interaction will give you the magical memories you're hoping for!

Meet the Panelist: Anna, New Jersey

My name is Anna and I am a wife, mother to three daughters and a son-in-law, and earning my Grandmom ears. I'm a law student and former teacher. I have planned vacations for all sorts celebrations, but really enjoy DVC vacations, helping military families, and assisting those with special dietary needs. Learn More About Anna

Didn't find what you were looking for?

To submit your question, please sign in now if you have not already done so.

Ask the Disney Parks Moms Panel

Discover the magic of a Disney Parks family vacation from one of our knowledgeable online Moms.

This is a question and answer forum to help you plan the best possible Disney vacation. Due to a high volume of submissions, we cannot guarantee that all questions will be answered. Also, please keep the number of questions in each submission to a limit of 3.

When submitting a question, please do not provide us with ideas or suggestions. Your completion of this form constitutes your consent to our free and unrestricted use and disclosure of the information you provide to us.

Write Your Question

256 Characters Remaining

Relevant Tags

Add at least two tags relevant to your question from the choices below.

Thanks for submitting your question!

You'll receive an email if your question is answered.

Due to the high volume of submissions, we cannot guarantee that all the questions will be answered. In the meantime, be sure to use the "Search" feature above or browse the site by destination to see if a similar question and answer have already been posted.